Please Note: Grading United States Mint Gold Coins is a subjective matter that takes
years of experience to do correctly. In most cases raw or un-graded coins are
usually over graded by the individual owner. Try to be realistic and understand
that grading is only a means to quantify or
evaluate the worth of a coin. The grading company used to grade a coin is very important
and there are only two that have the highest reputation in the numismatic
industry, NGC and PCGS. See:Rating
Coin Grading Services. Also note that coins within a specific grade can
be a plus or minus of that grade also increasing or decreasing value.
There can also be mirrored fields which can increase the value
significantly as in Proof-Like (PL) and Deep Mirror Proof Like (DMPL).
Mintage and popularity can also factor into consideration when accessing
the overall worth of a coin. Please remember that there are at least
three values of a coin; the Price the owner
thinks his coin is worth, the
Value a
Coin Price Guide Book or a
Pricing Guide lists it at and then most importantly, the Actual
Price that you can sell it for to a dealer, buyer, or at an auction.

You can also compare your coin through the online
auction links to
compare prices and condition from images. Click Each Price to Compare Current Online Auction Values in the Left
Side Column Below.
See Grading for more details on grading coins.

The United States Mint originally issued the first gold coins in 1795.
The U.S. Dollar Value was set at 24 ¾ grains of gold, based on the
price of gold at $19.39 per troy ounce (480 grains). As the
Western Frontier expanded, United States gold coins were struck at 7
different mints from Philadelphia to San Francisco. Sizes ranged
from a $1.00 gold piece up to the Fifty Dollar denomination. Back then, money
was literally “worth it’s weight in gold” no more, no less.

Congress changed the gold specification in 1834 and 1837 and
set the price of gold at $20.67 per ounce. In 1933, during the
height of the Great Depression, President Roosevelt made it
illegal for U.S.A. citizens to hold gold. He ordered that all gold coins
be removed from circulation and returned to the U.S. Treasury where
millions were melted into gold bars. The value of the U.S. Dollar
was adjusted from $19.75 per ounce to $35 per ounce. The
worldwide effect devalued the buying power of the dollar
by over 40%.

After the great gold recalls and meltdowns, millions of common Gold Coins suddenly became very rare and difficult for
collectors to obtain at all. Today, the total surviving Pre-1933
U.S.A. gold coin supply is fixed and extremely limited. Experts
estimate that less than 1% of those coins have survived the test
of time. Consequently, each one is highly prized by both rare
coin collectors and investors.

Each U.S. gold coin minted before 1933 is individually valued
based on its date, rarity, appeal among collectors, and state of
preservation known as the grade.

American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins

Authorized by the Bullion Coin Act of 1985, American Eagle Gold
Bullion Coins quickly became one of the world's leading gold
bullion investment coins. Produced from gold mined in the United
States, American Eagles are imprinted with their gold content
and legal tender "face" value. However, the face value is largely
symbolic since their market value has historically been much
higher.

American Eagles use the durable 22 karat standard established
for gold circulating coinage over 350 years ago. They contain
their stated amount of pure gold, plus small amounts of alloy.
This creates harder coins that resist scratching and marring,
which can diminish resale value.

Minted to exacting standards, the obverse (front) design is
inspired by what's often considered one of America's most
beautiful coins: Augustus Saint Gaudens' celebrated $20 gold
piece, minted from 1907-1933. The reverse features a nest of
American Eagles, symbolizing family tradition and unity.

Government Guarantee

What truly sets American Eagles apart is that they are the only
bullion coins whose weight, content and purity are guaranteed by
the United States Government. Investors can buy them with
confidence, knowing the coins contain their stated amount of gold.
In addition, long-term savers can include American Eagles in their
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).

Investing in Gold

Ever since its discovery 5,000 years ago, gold has been
treasured for its unmatched luster, beauty and intrinsic value.
Today, gold continues to enjoy widespread appeal as an investment
and storehouse of value. Gold is an internationally recognized
monetary and financial asset held in reserve by major governments.
It is so rare that all the gold ever mined could fit into a cube
measuring just 20 yards on each side. Most importantly, gold can
play a role in diversifying an investment portfolio, since it can
move independently of stocks and bonds. What's more, gold is a
tangible asset - one whose beauty and artistry you can literally
hold in your hands. When purchased in the form of legal tender
bullion coins, gold can be affordable, as well as easy to buy and
store. Americans purchase more American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins
than any other gold coin. Produced by the United States Mint,
Department of the Treasury, these coins are available in four
denominations.

FYI: Rare coins have historically protected or preserved
wealth as strong inflation fighters, particularly in countries whose paper
currency has been severely weakened. Any time our paper money is threatened,
rare coins can protect wealth much like an investment in gold bullion. The
beauty of rare coins can be enjoyed much like any other work of art. They
are also a very private form of investment not subject to government
scrutiny common to other types of investments held in banks and by brokerage
houses. Rare coins are easy to store and are virtually indestructible. They
are also insurable. Rare coins represent truly portable wealth which can be
moved from place to place very quickly and easily. If you intend to buy rare
or bullion coins for investment, your best protection is to spend time
learning about the coins you are being asked to buy. In the past, most
investment gains have gone to collectors, often known as numismatists, who
have taken the time to carefully study various aspects of coins, including
rarity, grading, market availability, and price trends. Investment success
over the years is the result of prudently acquiring coins of selected
quality, proven rarity, and established numismatic desirability. Many
careful buyers study coins for some time before buying even a single coin.
Success also can be enhanced by researching dealers, as well as coins.